Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Buddy’s Home Furnishings offers a proven rent-to-own model, strong ROI, low royalties and multi-unit potential in a growing industry.
Buddy's Home Furnishings is a leading rent-to-own franchise in the United States. The brand provides customers with a flexible model for acquiring essential home products, including furniture, electronics, appliances and accessories.
About the Brand
Buddy’s Home Furnishings was founded in 1961 and has grown into one of the largest rent-to-own franchises in the U.S., offering a wide range of home essentials including furniture, electronics, appliances and accessories. The brand is led by Michael Bennett, who brings decades of experience in the rent-to-own space.
Mission: To provide customers with affordable access to quality home products through a flexible rent-to-own model that respects their financial needs.
Vision: To be the nation’s most trusted name in rent-to-own by offering an unmatched customer experience and supporting franchisees with industry-best tools, systems and community.
Unique Selling Points (USPs):
Why Franchise With Buddy’s?
Available Territories
Buddy’s is offering franchise opportunities across the U.S., with territories currently available in all states except California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment to open a Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise ranges from $375,650 to $797,540. The 2025 FDD breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $39,900 | $39,900 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $2,000 | $109,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $12,000 | $25,000 |
| Computer System | $3,150 | $3,750 |
| Signs | $500 | $2,580 |
| Rent (3 Months) | $6,600 | $39,627 |
| Security Deposits for Lease & Utilities | $7,500 | $21,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $192,000 | $398,683 |
| Insurance | $4,000 | $9,000 |
| Training Expenses | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising/Marketing | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Professional Fees, Business Licenses & Permits | $1,000 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $95,000 | $110,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee for a Buddy’s Home Furnishings location is $39,900, due upon signing the franchise agreement. The brand offers 0% royalty for the first six months as a limited-time incentive.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Buddy’s franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees.
Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of gross sales/week |
| Marketing Fee | $175/week |
| Tech Fee | $1,050/month |
| Signage Lease Fee | $25 - $115/week for first 5 years $1/week for the rest of the term of the Signage Lease Agreement |
ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 284 Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise locations operational for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross sales:
| Quartile | Rental (Average) | Other (Average) | Gross Sales |
| Top Quartile (71) | $1,106,935 | $48,184 | $1,115,119 |
| Second Quartile (71) | $709,879 | $35,893 | $745,772 |
| Third Quartile (71) | $557,614 | $29,264 | $586,878 |
| Bottom Quartile (71) | $388,939 | $23,270 | $412,209 |
| Total (284) | $690,842 | $34,153 | $724,994 |
Training Programs
Franchisees receive a comprehensive onboarding program, including access to the Buddy’s Playbook — a detailed manual with best practices and systems for store operations. Training includes classroom, on-site and virtual formats covering sales, product knowledge, store management and customer service.
Operational Support
Technology and Tools
Eligibility Criteria
The ideal candidate is an independent rent-to-own retailer who’s ready to convert, expand or sell.
Operational Commitments
Buddy’s expects franchisees to be hands-on operators or to hire experienced managers. Semi-absentee ownership is possible with appropriate management infrastructure.
Funding Assistance
Buddy’s partners with BoeFly for financing solutions, including SBA loans. They also offer both in-house and third-party financing guidance.
Brian Landau, Franchisee — Miami, Florida
Patrick Ruland, Franchisee — Mobile, Alabama
Mark Zinn, Max Zinn and Andrea Foley, Franchisees — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
For more franchisee testimonials and success stories, visit https://buddysfranchising.com/home#pix_section_hear_from_franchisees.
The rent-to-own industry is a $12.2 billion market that has consistently grown for decades, proving resilient even during economic downturns. As consumer demand grows for flexible payment options and non-credit-dependent purchasing, Buddy’s is positioned to meet a permanent consumer need.
Key Drivers
Competitor Analysis
Buddy’s primary competitors include Rent-A-Center, Aaron’s and Premier Rental-Purchase. What sets Buddy’s apart is its 0% initial royalties, 60+ years of experience, localized marketing and strong leadership with franchise experience.
To get the process started, complete and submit this online form on Buddy’s franchise website.
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